A Ballad Of Jakkko Hill

By Rudyard Kipling

Ballad
One moment bid the horses wait, Since tiffin is not laid till three, Below the upward path and strait You climbed a year ago with me. Love came upon us suddenly And loosed an idle hour to kill A headless, harmless armory That smote us both on Jakko Hill. Ah, Heaven! we would wait and wait Through Time and to Eternity! Ah, Heaven! we could conquer Fate With more than Godlike constancy I cut the date upon a tree Here stand the clumsy figures still: "10-7-85, A.D." Damp in the mists on Jakko Hill. What came of high resolve and great, And until Death fidelity? Whose horse is waiting at your gate? Whose 'rickshaw-wheels ride over me? No Saint's, I swear; and let me see To-night what names your programme fill We drift asunder merrily, As drifts the mist on Jakko Hill.     L'Envoi      Princess, behold our ancient state Has clean departed; and we see 'Twas Idleness we took for Fate That bound light bonds on you and me. Amen! Here ends the comedy Where it began in all good will, Since Love and Leave together flee As driven mist on Jakko Hill!

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This is a captivating narrative poem steeped in themes of love, time, memory, and the fleeting nature of human desires. The poet employs the setting of Jakko Hill as a symbolic place where love was kindled and ultimately lost, using it as a metaphor for the transient nature of romantic relationships. The poem's tone is laced with melancholy and resignation, as the speaker reminisces about a love that once was, but has now drifted apart, much like the mist on Jakko Hill.

The structure of the poem, with its consistent rhyming scheme and regular meter, creates a rhythmic flow that echoes the cyclical nature of the relationship it describes. Key literary devices such as personification and metaphors are used skillfully. The phrase 'Love came upon us suddenly' personifies love as an active force, whilst 'Whose 'rickshaw-wheels ride over me?' is a powerful metaphor for feeling disregarded and replaced. The poem concludes with an 'L'Envoi,' a traditional ending in poetry that offers a reflective summary or moral. Here, the poet acknowledges the mistaken belief that their idleness was fate, ending with the harsh realization that love can be as fleeting as the driven mist on Jakko Hill.

Understanding Ballads

A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music, that has been a cornerstone of storytelling across various cultures. Traditionally passed down orally, ballads are known for their rhythmic structure and often tell tales of love, adventure, and heroism.

Ballads are characterized by their strong rhythm and repetition, making them both memorable and engaging. Here are some defining features:

  • Narrative Structure: Ballads typically tell a story, often a dramatic or emotional tale that unfolds in a straightforward, chronological order.
  • Quatrain Stanzas: Most ballads are composed of quatrains (four-line stanzas) with a rhyme scheme of ABAB or ABCB, which adds to the musicality of the verse.
  • Repetition: Refrains or repeated lines are common in ballads, helping to emphasize key themes or emotions and making the ballad easier to remember.
  • Oral Tradition: Many ballads originated from oral traditions, which means they were passed down through generations by word of mouth before being written down.

From medieval minstrels to contemporary songwriters, ballads have continued to evolve, remaining a beloved form of expression that captures the human experience in a way that is both poetic and accessible.